Human Navigators
Current floor: 33rd.
While crossing the desert in search of a gate, I ran into some hunters.
A small raid party—two men and four women.
I hadn't been traveling in Stealth mode, and I'd crossed paths with hunters a few times while moving in human form, but this was the first time any had actually approached and spoken to me.
"Um... are you by yourself?"
It was the kind of cautious line you'd hear in a cheesy pickup attempt—something I never even got back when I was human.
I glanced over at the woman who'd spoken.
She looked like a healthy beauty in her early twenties.
"Ah... ahem... yeah. Just me."
Regular conversation using vocal cords instead of telepathy still felt awkward, so I cleared my throat lightly.
The woman gave a sly smile and continued.
"No other party members? You don't look like you've lost anyone in combat... are you maybe a high-rank hunter?"
"...Yeah, something like that."
I gave a vague reply and nodded.
Truth be told, I'd been wandering the desert for a while without finding the gate, and my irritation was building.
It was taking real effort not to lash out at the female hunter right in front of me.
The Labyrinth Will was whispering 'kill' into my mind, just like always.
"Oh, don't get the wrong idea. It's just rare to see someone soloing the desert zone. I only asked out of curiosity. No idiot would pick a fight with someone who looks high-rank anyway."
Maybe she took my half-hearted response for wariness. She quickly added an excuse.
I nodded lightly in acknowledgment.
"So, what's this about?"
"Well... see, this is our first time in the desert zone. We were hoping a high-rank hunter like you might be able to help us out..."
She said it carefully, peeking at my reaction. I naturally glanced at her companions behind her.
At a casual glance, they seemed fine, but up close, they were in rough shape.
Grimy all over as a baseline, gear badly damaged, bodies marked by exhaustion.
"First time, huh... This is the 33rd floor. You've come pretty deep."
"...We have an idiot in the party."
Her gaze flicked to one of the hunters behind her.
A woman with short bobbed hair.
The rest of the party glanced her way too, so she must have form on her record.
Doesn't seem like she's lying.
No hit from Crisis Detection, so no hidden agenda.
Besides, that grime looked too real to be faked.
They'd clearly suffered for days.
So, what now...?
I scanned the hunters once more.
All their eyes on me were sparkling with desperate hope.
Like I was their damn savior.
What do you two think?
I asked my two partners, per our prior agreement.
Not helpful at all.
In a way, their consistency was admirable.
But I probably didn't need to ask.
To gather info from outside the labyrinth, I need sources.
...No, I'm not killing them.
Still, I agreed on using the Magic Eye.
I scanned the hunters again, gauging their strength.
Three C-ranks, three D-ranks.
Not the most stable for desert ops, but viable if they avoided top monsters.
No sense they'd resist the Magic Eye.
Alright, decided.
Left, your turn.
A calm murmur in my mind, and control shifted subtly.
Left took over briefly to activate the Magic Eye.
Not full takeover—initiative stayed with me.
"Shaaaah—."
A thin, serpentine hiss escaped my lips.
The hunters flinched, then their eyes glazed over, focus gone.
Magic Eye worked perfectly.
"Good job."
I reclaimed control and eyed the vacant female hunter waving her hand blankly in front of her face—no reaction.
"How deep did you set it?"
"...Good work."
Labyrinth Will and Left tag-teaming the kill chants was starting to feel like neurosis.
Without Unyielding, I'd be half-mad by now.
Well, Left wasn't seriously pushing for kills—just messing with me.
As part of "me," it knew this task mattered.
...Does it really get it?
It does... right?
Anyway, I'd secured my first info source: the female leader as my limb.
Thankfully, Left grasped the importance—no full personality wipe.
Normally it'd trash a couple hunters, but it held back.
Just simple suggestion-based control: can't defy me, absolute obedience.
Personality and habits unchanged.
"Your name?"
"Yoon Ji-su."
A quick chat with the first hunter I'd spoken to.
As expected, Yoon Ji-su was the leader and raid captain.
Best to leave management to her.
She took to the control especially well.
"First mission. Where's the gate?"
With Yoon Ji-su's guidance, I found the gate easily.
After nearly six hours lost, it was shockingly close.
Infuriating.
These useless partners...
I stuck with Yoon Ji-su's group heading upstairs.
Worried they'd screw up alone after I just made them useful, and they were perfect pathfinders.
Literal living human GPS.
Impeccable.
Mutual aid: we hunted occasional monsters, crossed floors fast.
Time halved from solo travel.
Already proven their worth.
Just hitting the 29th floor, we met a massive hunter group: over 100 strong.
All C-rank+, over half B-rank, plenty of A-ranks.
First proper large raid since heading up.
No S-ranks, but two near-equivalents.
Definitely lower-floor expedition bound.
Impressed by the scale but uninterested beyond, I pulled Yoon Ji-su's group aside to wait quietly.
Whispers of awe from beside me.
"Excuse me, a word?"
As we waited silently, an unexpected approach.
A middle-aged man walking quietly from their flank.
Plain uncle vibe, but one of the near-S-rank pair.
Quick glance at Yoon Ji-su.
"Yes, what is it?"
She stepped forward, voice tense with caution toward a clear superior.
The man grinned at her demeanor.
"No need to tense up. I'm Song Myung-sin, Hwarang Guild vice-guild master."
"Hwarang Guild..."
Yoon Ji-su murmured in awe.
The others behind echoed softly—famous guild, apparently.
Never heard of it porter days; must've risen in the last three years.
Glanced at the group; they eagerly explained.
Hwarang Guild.
Declined after previous master's lower-floor death; current master revived it in the last two years.
Growth ongoing; master one of Korea's 21 S-ranks, soon SA-rank projected. Big guy.
Mid-tier guild now, but destined for major league.
Someone lamented not buying stock.
Recently, their 3rd raid team wiped on a lower-floor expedi—shaken but standing.
"So that massive raid is..."
"Probably investigating the incident. Show for the cameras, but important."
I nodded slowly.
The raid wipe rumor from before—must be them.
While I listened, Yoon Ji-su and Song Myung-sin kept talking.
"So, you ladies only made it to 33?"
"Yes... as you can see, we're not that strong."
Song Myung-sin's gaze swept the group.
Grinning face, but eyes sharp as honed blades, scanning each one.
Finally lingered on me.
Our eyes met; we stared briefly.
Since that hunter spotted me from afar before, I'd hidden my presence properly since—no issue.
If caught, just kill 'em—that mindset lingered.
"I see."
Song Myung-sin looked away first.
No suspicion caught?
Relief mixed with odd disappointment.
My partners especially bummed.
I get it, but... you two overkill?
"You ladies know nothing, then?"
"Yes... wish we could help, sorry."
"No, no. Don't apologize, miss. The real apologies are owed by those monsters down there."
Song Myung-sin waved off Yoon Ji-su's bow with banter.
He scanned them, nodding lightly.
"Fine young hunters, bright futures ahead. If you make it big, come to our guild. I'll hook you up with great terms."
Casual offer, then a slight bow.
"Sorry for taking your time. Heading out of the labyrinth? Safe travels."
"...Yes. Take care, vice-guild master. Hope you get what you want."
"Haha, thanks for the well-wishes, miss!"
Grinning warmly, he bowed to the group and left.
The raid resumed.
Once gone, Yoon Ji-su and crew exhaled sharply.
"Hah...! Huge deal... That an A-rank's presence? He stared mid-chat; nearly pissed myself!"
"You did piss, right? Smells like it."
"Shut up! I didn't!"
Bickering filled the air.
I half-listened, staring where the raid vanished.
...What now?
...So?
...Ah!
Quiet realization.
Too faint to notice, but he'd tested the group.
And I'd failed.
...No wonder the long stare.
Mana sense picked one up, as Left said—from the raid's direction.
...Caught proper?
True... got complacent...
But did it matter? They were weak.
Worm squirms, no biggie...
I swallowed the rest.
Push more, Left might blow.
Time to stop teasing.
Doing what you like first.
I chuckled at Left's instant flip to hype.
Quiet Right joined in.
...Yeah. Not planned, but feast time.
Might actually satisfy Right for once.
Doubtful, though.
I quietly split from Yoon Ji-su's group.
Destination: obvious.
Hwarang Guild raid's location.